The Delta variant is a highly contagious Sars-CoV-2 virus strain. Video / Paul Slater
There are two Covid-19 community cases in the Bay of Plenty District Health Board area.
The Ministry of Health confirmed the cases, one in Tauranga and the other in Mount Maunganui, today about 1.30pm.
The Bay of Plenty Times first reported the suspected cases shortly after midday. Itis understood the Tauranga case is in Pyes Pā.
Tauranga had no confirmed cases of Covid yesterday but it was revealed the virus had been detected in wastewater samples collected in the city and Mount Maunganui on Monday.
This followed positive detections from November 10 and 11 samples.
The Tauranga case came in after the official 9am cut-off time for reporting and will be included in tomorrow's figures. Only the Mount Maunganui case is being included in today's figures.
"Any locations of interest will be added to the ministry's website as these are identified," the ministry said.
"Everyone who lives in or has travelled to the region is asked to monitor locations of interest regularly and follow any advice given.
"Anyone with Covid-19 related symptoms is asked to get tested as soon as possible – even if the symptoms are mild."
Including the Mount Maunganui case, there were 167 community cases announced today around the country. A case announced in Lakes DHB yesterday is officially reported in today's figures.
Medical Officer of Health at Toi Te Ora Public Health, Dr Bruce Duncan, said it was imperative that people get tested if they have symptoms, even if these are mild, to help contain further spread of the virus in the community.
"We are asking people in the wider Tauranga area, or anyone who has visited the region in the last two weeks to get a test if they are symptomatic. Symptoms can be mild so it is important to get tested even if you are not feeling particularly unwell," he said.
"After you are tested, you need to remain isolated until you return a negative test result."
Locations of interest would be updated on the Ministry of Health's website.
Duncan said the rapid increase in cases in the region was a timely reminder for people to get their vaccination, saying "now is the time".
He also recommended face coverings, using the Covid-19 tracer app, practicing good hand hygiene and maintaining distance from others.
Bay of Plenty District Health Board EOC incident controller Trevor Richardson said symptoms of Covid-19 can include: a new or worsening cough, sneezing and runny nose, fever, temporary loss of smell or altered sense of taste, sore throat, and shortness of breath.
Commission chairwoman for Tauranga City Council, Anne Tolley, said the evidence was clear that vaccination "hugely reduces the impact of Covid-19.
"People who have been fully vaccinated are less likely to catch the virus and they're much less likely to need hospitalisation or to die as a result of infection."
For available testing sites, including GP services, see the Healthpoint website:
Covid testing centres in the Bay of Plenty:
Tauranga City
• Mount Maunganui Sports Centre - Corner of Maunganui & Hull Roads (10am–6pm Friday 19/11 and 10am-4pm Saturday 20/11)
• Tauranga central-100 First Ave. Drive-through accessed via carpark next to Noel Leeming on Second Ave (8am–4pm, Monday–Friday)
• Tauranga Racecourse (10am–6pm Friday 19/11 and 10am–4pm Saturday 20/11)
• Accident & Healthcare -19 Second Ave (8am–6pm, seven days) This site is testing symptomatic patients and those who require clinical review only, and not those seeking 'swab only' (asymptomatic) testing.
Whakatāne District
• Whakatāne - Med Central Portacom, 52B King St (10am–4pm, Monday–Saturday)
• Murupara, Koromiko St (10am–4pm, Monday–Friday)
There are 85 people in hospital today, six of whom are in intensive care.
There were also two deaths announced today: a woman in her 80s and a man in his 90s.
Conversations with the woman's family have not finished, therefore details about her death have not been released.
The man had a number of underlying health conditions and was receiving "appropriate ward-level care" after being admitted to North Shore Hospital earlier this month with Covid-19.
Local leaders react
Tauranga Chamber of Commerce chief executive Matt Cowley said he was surprised cases hadn't arrived earlier after they appeared in Rotorua and Waikato.
"Each workplace has been planning, training and stocking up for when Delta arrives," Cowley said.
"Their planning will now be tested.
"Many people in the Western Bay community are doing what they have been asked to do: they're vaccinated, they're contact tracing, and many businesses have established staff bubbles so cases won't take out entire workforces."
Cowley thought the region would start the new traffic light framework under red status given the Bay of Plenty's relatively low vaccination level.
"Businesses are preparing for the new traffic light framework and assessing whether they will require vaccine passes to stay open this summer," he said.
"Employers should be preparing for staff to be required to isolate as case numbers will likely increase. Businesses can apply for funding from Government to help employees to isolate at home while they wait for testing or recover if they're infectious."
Tauranga Chamber of Commerce chief executive Matt Cowley. Photo / George Novak
Earlier today, Tauranga MP Simon Bridges said he thought it was "inevitable" cases would appear in the city.
"We're going to see this around New Zealand," he said. "That doesn't, though, mean it's not concerning and I acknowledge there'll be a lot of locals in Tauranga who will be concerned.
"I think the best we can say is if you're not vaccinated, get on to it. If you've got symptoms, obviously get tested. In the end though, what's also true is life has to go on, and the people of Tauranga and the Western Bay are resilient. I think they will, in a no-nonsense way, get on with it."
Elsewhere, Red Stag Investments Limited managing director Jason Cordes said a team member of Red Stag Wood Solutions in Taupō had tested positive for Covid-19.
Cordes said the team member tested positive on Monday and had been on a road trip with a person from the Taupō cluster about one week before. The result was confirmed yesterday.
"Everyone at Red Stag Wood Solutions has had no less than one vaccination," Cordes said. "Other members of the person's household have tested negative."
Cordes said the Ministry of Health estimated the possible time of exposure to parties from Rotorua was about half an hour.
"We've been told there is a low risk of contagion."
Cordes said the person became aware they were a contact sometime late last weekend.
